Refrigerator



w. P. MURPHY 2,214,474

REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 10,1949.

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Sept. l0, 1940. w. P. MURPHY REFRIGERATOR sheets-sheer 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1938 mvmvmmh uw Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

the cooling and/or humidifying of perishable commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, fish or dairy products wherein a liquid refrigerant container is positioned adjacent the ceiling of the refrigerator and a partition is associated with the container so that air cooled by a refrigerant therein is directed and moves downwardly through a ue associated with a vertical wallof the refrigerator and is preferably delivered at the floor of the refrigerator under the foraminous floor rack which supports the lading from the floor oi the refrigerator so vthat the air being warmed by the perishable commodities in the refrigerator rises and returns to adjacent the refrigerant cabinet, and being cooled by the refrigerant, repeats the cycle.

Thevinvention relates to providing a conduit or other means positioned within the vertical wall flue which drains the liquid refrigerant from the container so that while the liquid refrigerant is in the conduit it absorbs heat from the surrounding moving air and thusfurther cools such air.

A further object is to form the conduit, or

provide other means, so that movement of the liquid refrigerant through the conduit is retarded or slowed down so that it will absorb more heat from the surrounding air as the refrigerant passes through the conduit.

Another object is to form and arrange the conduit so as to minimize the crusting of salt on the inside of the conduit. Salt in suspension in water will adhere to some substances and solidify, thereby reducing the size of the conduit.

Another object is to form the condult'of a relatively wide member (horizontally) and of substantially the same depth (horizontally) as the depth of the vertical wall vflue and further to form the side walls of such member with vertical corrugations which are positioned so that the downwardly moving air passes through the spaces between the corrugations.

Another object is to provide means so that the liquid refrigerant may be quickly and entirely discharged outside of the cabinet when a dry air is desired inside of the refrigerator and to temporarily or permanently retain all or a part of the liquid refrigerant adjacent the floor of the refrigerator when a damp or wet air is desired inside of the refrigerator.

Another object is to provide means to hold the refrigerant in the container and not let it into the conduit when it is desired to maintain more refrigerant in the container so as to obtain a lower temperature of air and commodity within the refrigerator. Another object is to have said means operable only from the inside of the refrigerator so that it cannot be accidentally or 5 maliclously operated.

Any liquid refrigerant may be used in my device, such as ice water, brine, dry ice or eutectic ice. 'I'he sublixned gas from dry ice is heavier than air and. therefore, falls, and for the purpose 10 of this invention, is a liquid. y

The invention specifically relates to railway refrigerator cars wherein liquid refrigerants are desirable because it is not economically practical to provide mechanical refrigeration in such a car. 1|

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pipe and associated pipes shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of pipe.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 5.1s a section nline 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The usual parts of a refrigerator car are shown in Fig. 1, such as side sill 2; sub-floor 3; floor I; 25 oor rack 5 resting upon the floor 4 to provide the space 6; side sheathing 1; side lining 8; false wall 9 which provides the flue I0; side plate II roof I2; running board I3; ceiling I4; hatch frame I5 surrounding the hatch I6; refrigerant 30 container I1 and partition I8. The upper portion of the container II is preferably provided` with apertures I9 through which liquid refrigerant may overflow and ow downwardly through the flue l0. 35

Air circulates from the lading compartment 25 upwardly through the center duct 26. It is cooled by contact with the refrigerant container I'I and flows downwardly through the ue I0 to the space 6 from which it circulates upwardly to the lading compartment 25. A conduit 21 is provided to drain liquid refrigerant from the container I'I and is positioned within the flue I0 so that the circulating air may contact the conduit 21 and be further cooled. The conduit 45 21 may communicate withl the container I1 a distance above the bottom thereof, as shown at (28) in Fig. 1 or it may communicate adjacent the bottom of the container. The conduit 21 has a low-temperature because it contains re- 50 elevations of the conduits, show preferred forms. In Fig. 2, the conduit has several obiiquely disposed portions 30 which could be horizontal without departing from the spirit of the invention or the operation thereof. The conduit 21 may also be substantially helical, which form is not shown. In Fig. 3, the donduit 21 is shown formed with a plurality of upwardly inclined portions 3| which are intended to retain at all times some of the refrigerant flowing through the conduit 21. A liquid trap 32 is shown in Fig. 2 to prevent ow of warm air from outside the car into the conduit 21.

A valve 35 is provided in the upper portion of .the conduit 21. Said valve may be closed when it is desirable to prevent flow of refrigerant through the conduit 21 so as to retain a larger amount within the container I1. The valve 35 is preferably operable from within the car so vas to prevent the accidental or-malicious operation thereof.

Means is also provided, preferably a three-way valve 36, for draining the refrigerant from the conduit 21 either to the outside of the car or to the space 5 under the floor rack 5. Some commodities require dry air, so it is often desirable to discharge the liquid outside thev car. Other commodities require moist air and liquid under the oor rack 5 would, therefore, be beneficial. As shown in Fig. 3, a valve 31 may be provided to control or prevent flow of liquid from the conduit 21.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the conduit comprises a depending part of the refrigerant container 46. As shown in Fig. 5, the part 45 is wide; i. e., its dimension longitudinally of the car is considerable as is shown by its extending substantially between the spaces or posts 41. The part 45 has substantially the same depth as the flue I0, depth being defined -as the distance between the side lining 8 and the false wall 9. Some of the walls 48 of the part 45 are formed with verticallydisposed corrugations 45. The corrugations stiifen the walls 48 and also provide ilues 50 adjacent the side lining 8 and ilues 5I adjacent the false wall, the fiues I0, 52 and 5I being used for the circulation of cooled air. An auxiliary conduit 52 is provided to drain the container 45 and depending part 45 and' a valve 53 is provided at the lower end of the conduit 52. The valve 53 may be closed kto prevent escape of refrigerant. Valves 36 and liquid seal 32 may be applied to this modification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur 'to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator, the combination of a liquid refrigerant container adjacent the ceiling of the refrigerator, a flue associated with a vertical wali of the refrigerator, a partition associated with said container so that air cooled by ,a refrigerant in the container moves downwardly through said iiue, a foraminous iioor rack providing a space below the lading compartment of the refrigerator, a drain conduit for said container which is positioned within said ilue so that the refrigerant in said conduit further cools the air moving down said flue, and means whereby the refrigerant in said conduit may be directed to said space below the lading compartment or directed outside of the car. -rs f floor `of a refrigerator car, a foraminous rack arranged tofsupport the lading upon said floor and provide. a space therebetween, refrigerating equipment belowthe -roof, means associated with one of said walls to'conductliquid from the refrigerating equipment to the lower part of the car, and an adiustable draining means arranged to conduct said liquideither to the exterior of the car or upon said floor.

4. In arefrigerator, the combination of a liquid refrigerant container adjacent the ceiling of the refrigerator, a ilue associated with a vertical wali of the refrigerator, a partition associated with said container so that air cooled by a refrigerant in the container moves downward- `ly through said ue, and a drain conduit from said container which is positioned within said flue so that the refrigerant in said conduit further cools the air moving down said flue, said l drain conduit comprisinga relatively wide member of substantially the same depth as the depth of said flue and wherein the side walls of said member are formed -wlth vertical corrugations ,positioned so that the downwardly moving air passes through Ithe spaces between the corrugan tions. a

WALTER P. MURPHY.

3.111 combination with the walls, roof and.. 

